Chapter 86
882 Words
“Ooooh, Liv,” Griff teased. “Go crazy, babe.”
“I know, right?” she said. “But I will go certifiably insane if I have to eat just unsweetened grapefruit for breakfast again.”
They laughed and filled up their plates. They all sat down together at the table and started to eat.
Dallas cleared his throat. “So, Olivia… where do you want to go tonight?”
The others looked up.
“Tonight?” Griff said. “Nothing on your itinerary for tonight.”
“Yeah,” Liv said. “I know. This… this is off the itinerary.”
Dallas’ stomach tightened. It sounded like a date and/or sleepover, for sure.
“OK,” Selena leaned back, her dark eyes watchful. “Tell us.”
“I need to go somewhere alone.”
They all started at that. Then they set down their cups and cutlery, ready to fight her on this.
“No,” Dallas said. “No way.”
“Yes. Yes way.”
“Olivia,” he said. “We told you the rules, and you agreed to them. One of those rules is that someone is always with you. No exceptions.”
She crossed her arms. “Then we need to figure out something exceptional for tonight.”
“OK,” Griff said. “Tell us where you want to go… maybe we can work it out.”
Liv nodded. “I want to go to a house in Parker.”
“OK. That’s a nice area of the city,” Selena said cautiously. “What’s out there?”
“A – a house that I own.” She bit her lip. “I bought it for cash a few years ago, free and clear, and it’s a secret shelter.”
“For whom?” Griff said.
“Battered women,” she said. “And their kids. Parker’s an amazing area, with large houses, and great schools. It’s ideal for hiding these women and getting them started again.”
They all stared at her and then at each other.
“There’s nothing in your file about your work with battered women,” Dallas said slowly. “Nothing about another home. Why don’t we have this information?”
“Because it’s not something that I want to be common knowledge,” she said. “The only way this shelter is safe is if the abusive men can’t find it. The fewer people who know, outside of some organization workers that I trust, the better.”
“But we’re your protective detail, Olivia!” Dallas said. “For all we know, your stalker has something to do with this shelter! There may be a whole range of suspects that we haven’t even considered, all because we knew nothing about this!”
She looked down. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to keep the families safe.”
He took a deep breath, calming himself down. “OK. We know now. So, why don’t you want us to go with you tonight?”
“Oh, you can. I mean, you can take me there. But I don’t want any of you to come inside with me.”
“Forget it,” Dallas said. “Eyes on you at all times, unless you’re in a locked bathroom or your own home. Any other time, one of us is with you.”
“I know what I agreed to, Dallas, and I have no desire to put myself or any of you into a dangerous situation, OK? But these women and kids… they don’t trust men. They’re scared of them, so if you showed up – with your tattoos and muscles and guns – you’d frighten them. Same thing with Griff and Mark and Sully – they’re all huge guys, right? And the women don’t trust law-enforcement, for the most part, so even if they saw Selena standing there looking all authoritative, they’d freak out. I just – I don’t see a way to get anyone from your team inside without scaring these people half to death.” She looked at them, pleading. “This is supposed to be a safe place for them, guys, where they can totally relax. It's their home.”
They thought about that.
“You got a floor plan of the house?” Dallas asked.
Liv blinked. “Yeah.”
“OK. Let me see the plans, go over them with my team. We’ll stay outside, but we’ll have every door and window covered.” He rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. “And we’ll have to make sure we’re not followed. I don’t want to put these women and kids in any danger either.”
“Really?” she said.
“Yeah.”
She jumped to her feet, and went around to his side of the table to give him a hug. Her arms wrapped around him from behind and she gave him a kiss on his cheek. “Thanks, Dallas.”
“Yeah, OK.” He tried to scowl. “But I need to know right now if you’re keeping anything else from us, Olivia.”
“No, I swear.”
“OK.” He stood up. “Bring me the plans and I’ll go over them now.”
- Writer
